Wow! First time passenger exclaims as she board train from Ujevwu to Uromi

A first-time passenger, Ms. Gladys Jemine Oziegbe, who boarded train from the Ujevwu take-off point of the Warri-Itakpe Rail Line in Delta State today, Wednesday March 24, on her way to Uromi in Edo State, to attend her sister’s traditional marriage slated for tomorrow, Thursday March 25, exclaimed on entering the train: “A ride on a train for the first time is wow!”

Our Managing Editor, who visited the train station at Ujevwu, reports that most of the passengers, including an elderly man were amazed at the reality, comfort and lower cost implication of travelling by the train.

The Station Manager at the Ujevwu take-off point of the Warri-Itakpe Rail Line, Mr. Ben Ashibuogwu, told Fresh Angle International in an exclusive chat that they were expecting the delivery of cargo coaches today, Wednesday March 24, saying the delivery became necessary as a result of demand by passengers, who want to transport their goods from Ujevwu to other towns across the rail line.

A Section of the rail station at Ujevwu

Dig-Deep by This Newspaper, revealed that the train which runs the Warri-Itakpe Rail Line, is divided into First and Second Classes, with the first class having a 64-passenger capacity and the second class having 88-passenger capacity.

The train, set to depart the Ujevwu Station

The train, which has 14 coaches and currently makes use of seven of the coaches, departs the Ujevwu Rail Station in Delta State exactly 8.00am daily from Mondays to Fridays and arrives at Itakpe in Kogi State by 12.47pm.

The train, usually departs Itakpe 2.00pm daily and returns to Ujevwu by 6.47pm.

The cost implication for each destination from Ujevwu to Okpara, Abraka, Agbor, Igbanke, Ekenhew, Uromi, Agenebode, Itigbo, Ajeokuta and Itakpe is N350, N 450, N 700, N 850, N1,050, N1,250, N1,500, N1,650, N1,900 and N2,200 respectively.

Some Passengers waiting to procurre ticket at Ujevwu Station

Meanwhile, findings by Your Fast-Rising Newspaper, has revealed that one of the most popular road transport companies in Effurun, Delta State, which usually ply the Abuja route by road with 3 of its 18-seater buses daily, now struggles to load a bus daily as a result of the Warri-Itakpe Rail Line, which is now fully functional.

Investigation also revealed that while a journey to Abuja costs N12,000 by bus and not less than 9hours, travelling to Itakpe from Ujevwu by train is N2,200, with a waiting bus taking passengers from Itakpe to Abuja for N2,500. The trip by train to Itakpe and bus from Itakpe to Abuja, lasts under 6hours with less cost. This may be responsible for the reduced patronage the road transport operators that run the Warri/Effurn- Abuja Route are currently experiencing.

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